The way you look today

by PRAVAT J GURUNG

FROM ISSUE # 161 (May 2009) | IN THIS ISSUE
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Weight, body shape, and looking good all the time – young people (girls and guys) have a lot to keep up to these days. To those, who say it's the internal beauty that counts then why is it that for beauty contestants have to have a certain weight and height? With the perception of beauty becoming harder to grasp day by day, where does inner beauty come in place? Answering these questions and making a point that body image is important but not to an extent of getting sick are our six young participants.

Participants:

ALL IMAGES ANUP PRAKASH Prashansa,Yogendra& Sujita

1. Bipra Acharya, St. Xavier's College
2. Sujita Gurung, Malpi Institute
3. Jyoti Singh, National College
4. Prashansa Bista, National College
5. Diwas Shrestha, National College
6. Yogendra Subedi, National College

Jyoti,Diwas&Bipra

What do you understand by body image? Do you think it is a massive issue in Nepal?
Bipra: Body image is the perception of seeing yourself in the mirror. It is an issue but not a major one.
Prashansa: I agree and say the issue is going to get worst. Body image is not just about your body. Internal beauty counts too.
Diwas: Body image is a reflection of your body and it totally depends on a person's attitude. A good body is not sufficient.
Yogendra: I agree that body image reflects your personality.
Do you like what you see in the mirror? Has it ever affected your psychology?
Sujita: No one is satisfied with what they see in the mirror. Its just human nature not to.
Jyoti: Everytime I look in the mirror, I think I lack something. I even dieted for sometime but got sick so I quit. It does have an affect on one's psychology.
Diwas: Exactly and I think especially for girls, the effect is higher.
Bipra: That's because we have the pressure to look beautiful more so for girls at a marriageable age.

Does it affect you when people comment about the way you look?
Sujita: People love to stick their nose in other people's matter. So I never listen to what others say.
Jyoti: It does affect me but I don't go on a diet because of it.
Prashansa: I am who I am and I don't care what people say. I may be chubby but I have a reason for it. Yogendra: Exactly, you are who you are and nobody can change it.
Diwas: But whatever everyone here says, looks and body does matter and no matter how much you try and ignore it, it's there!

What are your views on eating disorder?
Bipra: I don't think eating disorder prevails much in Nepal because I have never met someone with it. Though I am an emotional eater.
Jyoti: Neither have I but I have gone through the whole dieting phase and then got sick.
Sujita: I don't have it either but my one friend has. She's under pressure from her group of friends and it's affecting her mentally and physically but she's not taking any advice.

Diwas: There is no compromise when it comes to health.

What are your views on the size zero phenomenon?  Do you think media is influencing people?
Sujita: Its rubbish and yes, media is the one who's hyping it up.
Bipra: Seriously, who can achieve size zero unless you want to get sick? People should use their brain rather than wasting time thinking about getting to size zero.
Jyoti: Size zero is a fantasy for girls for which they go to extremes.
Prashansa: True. Size zero is something that has been brought up terribly by the media and now everybody wants to be Kareena Kapoor.

Have you ever bought a fairness cream? If yes why?
Diwas: I have (smiles). But I have a reason for it. I swim a lot and I have to use it. Tall, DARK and handsome doesn't work here (laughs).
Bipra: I have never bought a fairness cream and I don't think I ever will. Sun block lotion is enough for me.
Sujita: I haven't either and seriously, does it work at all?
Jyoti: Many have sensitive skin so it doesn't suit everyone but the advertisements are such that people will just follow it.
Prashansa: Nobody gets fairer in a matter of weeks. Its sheer foolishness if people run after it even though they know its not going to make them fairer.
Yogendra: Like Bipra, Sun block is enough for my skin to get protected from the harmful UV rays.

What do you think of weight reduction pills? Would you consider a surgery to acquire the perfect body?
Diwas: Never used it and I don't think I will have to. Going under the knife is out of the question.
Bipra: In the future, if I get extraordinarily fat and that I can't do my daily chores, I might consider a surgery. Weight reduction pills are out of the question for me too.
Sujita: It does help you loose weight but over using it might usher in problems. I would never get a surgery no matter what.

What is beauty for you?
Bipra: For me, beauty is not looking beautiful and putting make up. Its inner beauty that really counts.
Yogendra: First impression is the last impression so external beauty counts for me. Internal beauty matters too but it is with time that you get to know people.
Sujita: Beauty means being confident and presentable but yes, looks does matter to me.
Diwas: I agree with Sujita. Looks is all that matters today. But beauty cannot just be external. You got to check out the internal beauty as well.

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